UTILITY TUB WITH REMOVABLE RACK

BAIGNOIRE DOTEE D'UN SUPPORT AMOVIBLE

English Abstract

A utility tub is provided with a sink area having support surfaces for removably supporting a tray. The tray may hold items that are drying. In addition, the utility tub may be provided with an enlarged area for supporting other items, and various accessories such as a towel rack or towel pegs.

French Abstract

Une baignoire est dotée d'un espace lavabo comportant des surfaces de support pour soutenir un plateau de manière amovible. Le plateau peut contenir des articles pendant leur séchage. De plus, la baignoire peut comprendre un espace élargi pour soutenir d'autres articles et divers accessoires comme une barre à serviette ou des crochets à serviette.

Claims

CLAIMS
1. A utility tub comprising:
a sink for receiving water from a faucet, the sink having an open top, two
side portions, a
back portion holding the faucet, and a front portion;
a support structure on said sink that removably supports a tray that extends
from said
front portion of said sink to said back portion of the sink, said support
structure formed of a ridge
within said sink on said front portion and a ridge within said sink on said
back portion.
wherein said tray is reversible with at least two distinct constructions on
opposite sides
including a first construction that facilitates draining articles on a first
side, and a second
construction on second side that forms an enclosed space; and
legs for supporting said sink.
2. The utility tub as set forth in claim 1, wherein said support structure
is additionally
formed of a ridge on said two side portions of said sink.
3. The utility tub as set forth in claim 1, wherein said first side of said
tray includes grooves
for receiving and holding items to dry.
4. The utility tub as set forth in claim 1, wherein said sink is provided
with an enlarged
surface outwardly of one side adjacent said back portion for supporting said
faucet which is
larger than an area outwardly of said open sink on an opposed side.
5. The utility tub as set forth in claim 4, wherein a towel rack is
provided beneath said
enlarged surface.
6. The utility tub as set forth in claim 1, wherein a towel rack is formed
on a side of said
sink.
7. The utility tub as set forth in claim 1, wherein said tray has a water
drainage structure.
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Description

CA 02639213 2008-08-28

UTILITY TUB WITH REMOVABLE RACK
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This application relates to a utility tub of the type having a free standing
sink
on legs, wherein a removable rack is positioned within the sink to support
items.
Utility tubs are known. A typical utility tub includes a large open sink area
supported on stand alone legs. Since these tubs have typically been utilized
for any
number of purposes, they have not been provided with accessories that would
facilitate and expand their use for purposes such as draining or drying items.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, a utility tub has a sink with a
support area for supporting a removable tray. In disclosed embodiments, the
tray
can have drain features such that it can be utilized to drain or dry items.
Since the
tray is removable, the entire open sink area is also available.
In other features, the utility tub may be provided with an enlarged area to
one
side of the sink for supporting various items. In addition, a towel rack can
be
integrally connected on the utility tub.
These and other features of the present invention can be best understood
from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a
brief
description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a schematic view of a utility tub incorporating the present
invention.
Figure 2 is a top view of the Figure 1 tub.
Figure 3A shows a second embodiment in a first orientation.
Figure 3B shows a second embodiment in an alternative orientation.
Figure 4 if a top view of the second embodiment.
Figure 5 is a side view of the second embodiment.
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CA 02639213 2008-08-28

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A utility tub 20 is illustrated in Figure 1 having a sink area 22 supported on
stand alone legs 23. As shown, towel pegs 24 may be associated with the legs.
As
known, a faucet allows water to flow into the utility tub. A drain, not shown,
is also
provided.
In the utility tub 20, a ridge 26 extends around at least the forward and rear
walls of the sink area 22. This ridge supports a tray 28.
As shown in Figure 2, the tray 28 includes drain holes 32. Thus, the tray can
be utilized to support items that have been washed in the sink 22 and are now
drying. The items may include sponges, scrub brushes, paint brushes, flower
pots,
etc. As is clear from Figure 2, the ridge 26 extends around all four sides.
As shown at 32, the tray 28 is removable.
Figure 3A shows another embodiment 40 wherein the sink 42 is provided
with a ledge 43 as in the first embodiment. An enlarged support area 44 is
formed to
one side of the sink 42. In addition, a lower support surface 51 may be
associated
with the legs 23.
The tray 46 is formed with drain grooves 48, again to drain away water from
drying items.
As shown in Figure 3B, the tray 46 can be reversed to an orientation at which
it provides an enclosed holding space. This orientation allows the tray to be
used to
presoak items prior to washing, or simply hold items.
As shown at 54 in Figure 4, the tray 46 can be removed.
As shown in Figure 5, the enlarged area 44 is provided with a towel rack 50.
In embodiments of this invention, the sink, the ledge, the area 44 and the
towel rack 50 may all be molded as a one-piece plastic item. The legs 23 may
then
be attached to the sink. Of course, other ways of forming the utility tubs of
this
invention may be utilized.
Although embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, a worker of
ordinary skill in this art would recognize that certain modifications would
come
within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims
should be
studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

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Representative Drawing